Method of stretching leather shoes

ABSTRACT

A METHOD OF STRETCHING LEATHER SHOES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF APPLYING A COMPOSITION COMPRISING ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, OCTYLPHENOXY POLYETHYLENE OXIDE AND HEXACHLOROPHENE TO THE SHOE AND WALKING WITH THE SHOE ON THE FOOT IN ORDER TO STRETCH THE LEATHER. THE HEXACHLOROPHENE IS AN ANTI-BACTERIAL AGENT, AND ITS FUNCTION IS TO KILL ODOR-PRODUCING BACTERIA IN SHOES.

United States Patent US. Cl. 252-857 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of stretching leather shoes comprising the steps of applying a composition comprising isopropyl alcohol, octylphenoxy polyethylene oxide and hexachlorophene to the shoe and walking with the shoe on the foot in order to stretch the leather. The hexachlorophene is an anti-bacterial agent, and its function is to kill odor-producing bacteria in shoes.

This application is a continuation of United States, application Ser. No. 725,217, filed Apr. 29, 1968, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a composition which is applied to shoes or other leather goods in order to stretch the leather. There are a number of products now on the market that are adapted for stretching the leather in shoes to relieve the tightness in the shoes, or in a specified area of the shoes. These products are generally available in liquid form and are sprayed on the shoes in the area where the tightness is to be relieved. The majority of the products now in use comprises an organic solvent, such as alcohol, which will penetrate the fibers of the leather in order to relax them and permit the stretching of the leather. After the liquid has been applied, the leather is then physically or mechanically stretched.

An improvement in the prior leather stretching compositions which was made by the applicant resided in the addition of a wetting or surface active agent to the organic solvent. Utilizing the wetting agent, the penetration of the solvent into the leather occurred more rapidly and to a greater extent than could be accomplished without the wetting agent. Furthermore, tests have shown that the addition of the wetting agent reduced the amount of shrinkage after the stretching force was removed. Thus, utilizing the wetting agent permitted a ten to fifteen percent elongation in the leather with very little shrinkage following the release of the stretching force. Without the wetting agent, the shrinkage occurred to a far greater extent, and in some instances, it was found that ultimately 100 percent shrinkage occurred.

The improvement of this invention resides in the addition of an anti-bacterial agent to a leather stretching composition. The purpose of the anti-bacterial agent is to kill the odor-causing bacteria which are normally found in leather goods, especially shoes. Thus, the composition of this invention will serve the dual function of stretching the leather and removing the odor of the shoes.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel composition adapted for stretching leather.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of using a novel composition for stretching leather.

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a composition for stretching leather comprising a solution of an organic solvent and an antibacterial agent, said organic solvent being present in an amount suflicient to cause the stretching of leather, and said anti-bacterial agent being present in an amount sufficient to kill odor-causing bacteria in the leather, thereby destroying the odor produced by said bacteria.

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A general formula embodying the composition of this invention can be found in Example I, as follows:

EXAMPLE I Ingredient: Percent by volume Petroleum ether 0.1-0.5 Benzyl acetate 0.02--0.1 Sodium lactate 0.02--0.1 Wetting agent 0.01-0.05 Anti-bacterial agent 0001-0005 Alcohol 30-70 Distilled water to 100.

The exact function of each of the ingredients of the foregoing composition is not known, but it is believed that the alcohol is primarily responsible for the stretching which occurs. Any alcohol, such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol may be used in the composition of this invention.

The sodium lactate serves as a bufiering agent for the composition.

The wetting or surface active agent lowers the surface tension of the composition and aids in penetration into the fibers of the leather. Wetting agents that can be used are sodium lauryl sulfate and benzalconium chloride. A wetting agent which has been found to be particularly effective is Triton X-lOO which is a non-ionic surface active agent produced by Rohm & Haas Company. Triton X-lOO is octylphenoxy polyethylene oxide and is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,294,693.

Any anti-bacterial agent which is available in liquid form or which will dissolve in the solvent of the composition of this invention can be used. A preferred material is hexachlorophene. Another material which can be used is iodine.

The composition is formed merely by mixing the ingredients. Although the amount of hexachlorophene shown in Example II appears to be extremely small, it has been found in actual practice that it is suflicient to kill the odor-causing bacteria in leather when the composition is applied to the leather. Additionally, the composition is best mixed in large amounts, such as fifty gallons at a time, and therefore the relative volume percentages are easily controlled.

The composition of this invention is usable on all leather products, including suede, alligator, buck, doeskin, calf, etc. In use, it is sprayed on the leather which has to be stretched, and thereafter a stretching force is applied in order to obtain the required amount of stretch in the material. The stretching force is maintained until the leather is set in its new size.

A preferred method of using the composition on shoes is to spray the material over the entire area surrounding a tight spot on the shoe while the shoe is on the foot. Thereafter, the wearer of the shoe should walk for approximately thirty seconds to aid in stretching the fibers of the leather. The shoes should be kept on for an additional fifteen to twenty minutes after spraying to enable the leather to re-set permanently in its new contour.

The treatment of gloves is; carried out in much the same manne r as the treatment for shoes. Thus, the tight areas of the glove should be sprayed while the glove is on the hand, and thereafter the hand should be made into a fist and then expanded continuously for a period of about thirty seconds in order to permit the gloves to stretch fully. The glove should then be kept on the hand for about twenty minutes to permit the leather to re-set in its new contour.

When it is desired to use the composition solely for its odor-killing elfect, the entire shoe can be sprayed on the inside or outside, or both. Likewise, the composition can be sprayed ov'or'the entire shoe for the dual purpose of killing odor and permitting the shoe to stretch while the shoe is on the foot.

The composition is used in a similar manner for the stretching of leather in garments, such as jackets, or in the stretching of leather used for any other purpose. Thus, the basic process comprises the application of the composition of this invention, the application for a short period of time of a force which will stretch the leather beyond the required amount, and the final application of a sufiicient force to prohibit the leather from shrinking while the new contour or size of the leather is being set.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. A method of stretching the leather in a leather shoe and killing odor-causing bacteria in the leather of the shoe comprising the steps of applying an aqueous solution comprised of isopropyl alcohol, octylphenoxy polyethylene oxide and hexachlorophene to said shoe, said isopropyl alcohol being present in an amount sufi'icient to cause the stretching of said leather, said amount being in the range of 30% to by volume of the solution, said hexachlorophene being present in an amount suflicient to kill odor-causing bacteria in the leather and being present in the range of 0.001% to 0.005% by volume of the solution, and said octylphenoxy polyethylene oxide being present in an amount sufficient to aid in the penetration of the solution into the fibers of the leather and being in the range of 0.01% to 0.05% by volume of the solution, and stretching said leather by walking with the shoe on a foot after the solution has been applied.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,479,648 2/1969 Langley 8-94.17 3,395,039 7/ 1968 Leebrick 117-142 3,382,089 7/1968 Klein et a1. 117-142 3,334,072 8/ 1967 Sellet 260-785 3,245,831 4/1966 Shippee 117-142 2,998,293 8/1961 Damn 8-94.18 1,961,740 6/ 1934 Conquest 149-1 1,200,146 10/1916 Sjalteholz et al. 894.17

OTHER REFERENCES The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, p. 555.

GEORGE F. LESM-ES, Primary Examiner J. P. BRAMMER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

